Piper Alpha Engulfed

The Rescue Attempts

Workers on the nearby Claymore and Tartan platform looked on in horror as the Piper Alpha erupted into flames. The heat and flame killed many, and the control room was destroyed paralysing the command structure and evactuation plans, although such was the heat and flames that the launching of the rescue craft was near-impossible. Two fearless oil workers donned fire fighting gear and attempted a do-or-die mission below deck to manually activate the deluge system (A ferocious firefighting system. The automatic activation of which which had controversially been deactivated due to divers working in the vicinity of the platform).

They both rushed at speed into the flames never to be never seen again.
One survivor desperate to flee rushed onto the helideck where the heat instantly melted his hard hat as he plunged over 200 feet to the sea. Other survivors seeing the smoke begin to penetrate the 'safe refuge' module abandoned hope of helicopter rescue and took the plunge into the sea.

The stormy seas meant conditions in the water were awful, but the jumpers from the Piper Alpha were fortunate that it meant the agitated sea state effected a softer landing. Paradoxically in a flat sea state or near-calm the effects of jumping in would of been similar to breaking through concrete. This factor undoubtably saved lives and injuries.